updated 06:40 pm EST, Thu January 12, 2012

Headset with LEDs syncs to gaming action

SteelSeries has brought out two new headsets at CES. The over-the-ear SteelSeries Siberia v2 Frosty Blue Edition adds blue LED lighting to its popular Siberia v2 family of gaming headsets. The on-the-ear SteelSeries Flux is more multipurpose and is designed to fold down into a compact form-factor for travel.

The Frost Blue headset incorporates dual 50mm driver units housed in circumaural earcups. It also sports a noise cancelling microphone system that retracts when not in use. The cord holds in-line volume and mute controls. Connectivity to a cumputer is through USB.

The Frost Blue's LED lights glow through the outer mesh grill on each earcup. The headset uses SteelSeries' Engine software to offer six different illumination modes that can be synchronized with specific game profiles. The options include Active Mode (responsive pulsing to sound effects, music, and/or voice), Slow Pulse, Fast Pulse, High Bright, Low Bright and off. Preferences can be saved for future play.

The SteelSeries Flux headset features smaller 40mm drivers set in mesh cloth cushions, The headset's ear-cups fold inward when wearing it around the neck, and collapse at the ear-cup hangers for quick and compact storage while traveling. The Flux provides two input jacks. This provides flexibility to choose on which side to place the microphone, and offers the ability to daisy chain the headset to another for multi-user listening.

Both the SteelSeries Siberia v2 Blue Frost and Flux will be available some time during the spring, with pricing set closer to that point.